Doug Kanter wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Doug Kanter wrote:

Is this in a flower bed, or are the tulips naturalized in the lawn
itself?
This is a flower bed, with a visual border to separate it from the
grass. (But the grass doesn't respect the boudary.)

Ted Shoemaker



This is easy. For the grass invasion, you need a sharp spade. Not a curved
shovel. A spade, and a flat file to touch up the edge now and then. A day or
two after a rain, most grass & weeds are easier to pull. Drive the spade
straight down along the edge of the bed. This cuts the horizontal runners by
which grass spreads. Cutting them will significantly slow the invasion. In
the bed itself, just loosen the grass with a hand cultivator, pull out the
clumps and shake off the soil. Obviously, you'll need to be careful working
around the tulips, but they're usually not hurt by being roughed up.

I only need to do this type of cleanup once or twice a year. In between
those times, I use a tool like this every couple of weeks, unless I'm
interrupted by fishing or other more important chores:
http://www.gardeners.com/Swan-Neck-H...ing.34-526.cpd

You might also like a hoe like the one included in this combination tool:

http://www.gardeners.com/Ergonomic-S...ault/20140.prd

It's also called a Swiss hoe or oscillating hoe. I have two of
oscillating design (though I don't have this particular combination
product), and they are great for neatening up beds and rows.